De Niro prostate cancer lawsuit dismissed

A lawsuit against Robert De Niro by an insurance company that claimed he intentionally withheld a prostate cancer diagnosis has been dismissed.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Co, which insured supernatural thriller Hide and Seek, sued the actor in 2006, claiming he had misrepresented his health on a medical certificate.

The firm said he had wrongfully checked off a box indicating he had "never been diagnosed with or treated for" conditions including a diseased prostate.

De Niro was diagnosed with prostate cancer two days after he signed the certificate on October 13, 2003, and had undergone a biopsy three days before. The company claimed to have ended up spending $1.8 million when the movie was delayed for his treatment.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu granted De Niro's motion to have the case thrown out.

The star's lawyer Robyn Crowther said: "This ruling vindicates what we've said all along. We are pleased that the court has found that Fireman's Fund can't sue Mr. De Niro for getting cancer."